Once again, U.S. at pandemic crossroads

[brooklynite]

Politico

The United States has a narrow window to force the coronavirus into a partial retreat before the one-two punch of school openings and colder weather brings a widely feared rebound.

It’s blowing it, again.

Until vaccines and drugs arrive — and top scientists say they aren’t as imminent as President Donald Trump keeps promising — the tools to fight the virus remain the same: testing, masks, all the things Americans have been hearing about but not always doing since March. They are crucial right now. New cases have fallen from the pandemic’s second peak this summer, creating a brief chance to wrestle the caseload lower — not to zero, but low enough to blunt the impact of the new infections expected this fall.

“We could be on our way to much less infection,” said Nicole Lurie, who was HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response in the Obama administration.

But the Trump White House isn’t doubling down on Public Health 101, even as new hot spots emerge, in both the South and the Upper Midwest. Trump devoted only a few sentences to basic precautions in his pre-Labor Day weekend press briefing, followed by the upbeat assessment that “we're really rounding the turn.” He is relying on a new adviser, Scott Atlas, a conservative physician he saw on Fox News who doesn’t have a background in public health or infectious disease but holds views aligning with Trump’s desire for faster and broader economic reopenings.

[The Magistrate]

1. There Will Be More Than A Quarter Million Dead Before The Election, Sir

That headline should strike a little prior to Halloween....

[2naSalit]

3. At least, Sir.

I expect well over 300,000 by mid November.

[Hugin]

2. As long as the narrative that COVID is no worse than a 'cold' remains the refrain from the top...

Nobody (present company excepted) is going to take it as seriously as is warranted.

Recent research is beginning to show that any infection from this virus is going to leave long term chronic systemic damage in those who have had the disease. Even in those who seem to be 'asymptomatic'.

Never mind the damage from the acute phase.

I will say once again... The so-called 'herd immunity' is a myth and would theoretically only occur in a closed system where this virus is the only disease in town. So, do yourself and anyone you care about a favor and wear a goddamned mask over all of the duct work.

[Klaralven]

4. Should have kept indoor dining, bars, gyms, etc. closed until we saw how schools went